Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls
Monday, 3/5/12, 8:00 PM EST, TV: WGN
Opening Point Spread: Chicago -7
Current Betting Line: Chicago -7
Opening Total: 186
Current Total: 188
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Indiana has won six games in a row and will complete a two-game road trip when visiting the Windy City on Monday night. The Pacers are coming off an impressive 102-84 win over the New Orleans Hornets as six-point road favorites. “We’re playing really well right now and playing with a lot of confidence,” commented Pacers forward Danny Granger. He will play a major role in the offensive game plan, averaging 24.7 points per game in the last nine regular-season meetings in this Eastern Conference series. Indiana is 8-24 ATS as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points the last two-plus seasons.
The Pacers are 12-8 overall on the road this season, including a 7-6 mark versus Eastern Conference opponents. Indiana is off to its best start to a season with a 23-12 record since going 25-10 in the first 35 games of the 2003-04 campaign. A lot of the team’s success is based on hitting the 90-point mark, posting a 22-3 record when doing so. Hitting that mark inside the United Center may prove difficult when considering tonight’s opponent allows 85.4 points per game at home.
Chicago comes in on its own six-game win streak and captured a hard-fought 96-91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers as 3.5-point road favorites. The Bulls will be focused on gaining revenge from a 95-90 loss to the Pacers as 8.5-point home favorites on Jan. 25. “I’ll never forget how they celebrated just from winning this game,” commented Bulls point guard Derrick Rose about that particular loss. He should be primed to lead this team to victory, tying a season high with 35 points last night. Chicago is 20-13 ATS in March the last two-plus seasons.
The Bulls have registered an impressive 14-2 record at home this season, which includes a 10-2 mark versus East opponents. Chicago is 84-74 all-time against Indiana, including a 56-22 mark when playing at home. Last season, the Bulls outscored the Pacers 102.3 points per game to 90.8 points per game. It’s important to note that fatigue may set in for this franchise after this affair, as its played a league-high 39 games up to this point.
Bettors will likely back the Bulls due to their 37-15 ATS mark as a favorite of 5.0 to 10.5 points, while the Packers are 0-5 ATS versus winning teams.
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